Power still out in Upper Hunter

Supply restoration efforts today are again centred in the Upper Hunter area, where around 300 customers remain without power.

Supply restoration efforts today are again centred in the Upper Hunter area, where around 300 customers remain without power.

A number of employees from the nearby Ausgrid distribution area are now assisting Essential Energy with the restoration efforts, after completing the clean-up in their own area following Sunday’s storms.

Additionally, Essential Energy has called in a helicopter to patrol two badly damaged high voltage powerlines in the Dungog and Gresford areas to locate faults that may not be evident from the ground.

North Coast regional manager, Brendon Neyland, said Essential Energy welcomed Ausgrid’s assistance, which was a reciprocal arrangement when need-be.

“We now have around 150 workers across the region completing repairs, with about 50 of those in the Allyn River area alone,” Brendon said.

“We started the day with 560 customers without supply. As we continue the restoration work, we ask anyone who is still without power to contact Essential Energy on 13 20 80.

“This is particularly important if anyone is aware of damage to the low voltage service line that attaches to their home or shed, but hasn’t yet reported it.”

He said workers were also attending to a large number of single premise low voltage faults throughout the region.

“At present we’re on track to restore supply to all customers by later tonight, but this could change if we become aware of further network damage that hasn’t yet been reported or resourced,” Brendon said.